Denise Ruffino, Refuge Manager of the McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge, checks on an area where double sand fences are working to rebuild the sand dunes. They are not made to hang people's trash on, they are there to help the sand dunes rebuild themselves. It's getting closer to the time when reparation money from the 2010 BP oil spill will finally get to ground level. All along the Texas Gulf Coast, various groups and municipalities will apply for grant funding for projects benefitting a healthy Gulf Coast ecosystem. One such project involves rebuilding the dune system that protected the coastal marshes along the McFaddin shoreline before Hurricane Ike steamrolled them flat. We will visit the McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge and take a look at the stretch where the wetlands are most compromised, where saltwater intrusion is the biggest threat. Besides being important wildlife habitat, beloved of sportsmen, those marshes are Jefferson County's first line of defense from storm surge, and without them, we likely would have been inundated in Hurricane Ike. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise less

Denise Ruffino, Refuge Manager of the McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge, checks on an area where double sand fences are working to rebuild the sand dunes. They are not made to hang people's trash on, they are ... more

Photo: Dave Ryan

Image 2 of 33

Denise Ruffino, Refuge Manager of the McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge, checks on an area where double sand fences are working to rebuild the sand dunes. They are not made to hang people's trash on, they are there to help the sand dunes rebuild themselves. It's getting closer to the time when reparation money from the 2010 BP oil spill will finally get to ground level. All along the Texas Gulf Coast, various groups and municipalities will apply for grant funding for projects benefitting a healthy Gulf Coast ecosystem. One such project involves rebuilding the dune system that protected the coastal marshes along the McFaddin shoreline before Hurricane Ike steamrolled them flat. We will visit the McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge and take a look at the stretch where the wetlands are most compromised, where saltwater intrusion is the biggest threat. Besides being important wildlife habitat, beloved of sportsmen, those marshes are Jefferson County's first line of defense from storm surge, and without them, we likely would have been inundated in Hurricane Ike. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise less

Denise Ruffino, Refuge Manager of the McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge, checks on an area where double sand fences are working to rebuild the sand dunes. They are not made to hang people's trash on, they are ... more

Photo: Dave Ryan

Image 3 of 33

Denise Ruffino, Refuge Manager of the McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge, checks on an area where double sand fences are working to rebuild the sand dunes. They are not made to hang people's trash on, they are there to help the sand dunes rebuild themselves. It's getting closer to the time when reparation money from the 2010 BP oil spill will finally get to ground level. All along the Texas Gulf Coast, various groups and municipalities will apply for grant funding for projects benefitting a healthy Gulf Coast ecosystem. One such project involves rebuilding the dune system that protected the coastal marshes along the McFaddin shoreline before Hurricane Ike steamrolled them flat. We will visit the McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge and take a look at the stretch where the wetlands are most compromised, where saltwater intrusion is the biggest threat. Besides being important wildlife habitat, beloved of sportsmen, those marshes are Jefferson County's first line of defense from storm surge, and without them, we likely would have been inundated in Hurricane Ike. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise less

Denise Ruffino, Refuge Manager of the McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge, checks on an area where double sand fences are working to rebuild the sand dunes. They are not made to hang people's trash on, they are ... more

Photo: Dave Ryan

Image 4 of 33

Denise Ruffino, Refuge Manager of the McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge, checks on an area where double sand fences are working to rebuild the sand dunes. They are not made to hang people's trash on, they are there to help the sand dunes rebuild themselves. It's getting closer to the time when reparation money from the 2010 BP oil spill will finally get to ground level. All along the Texas Gulf Coast, various groups and municipalities will apply for grant funding for projects benefitting a healthy Gulf Coast ecosystem. One such project involves rebuilding the dune system that protected the coastal marshes along the McFaddin shoreline before Hurricane Ike steamrolled them flat. We will visit the McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge and take a look at the stretch where the wetlands are most compromised, where saltwater intrusion is the biggest threat. Besides being important wildlife habitat, beloved of sportsmen, those marshes are Jefferson County's first line of defense from storm surge, and without them, we likely would have been inundated in Hurricane Ike. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise less

Denise Ruffino, Refuge Manager of the McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge, checks on an area where double sand fences are working to rebuild the sand dunes. They are not made to hang people's trash on, they are ... more

Photo: Dave Ryan

Image 5 of 33

Image 6 of 33

Denise Ruffino, Refuge Manager of the McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge, checks on an area where double sand fences are working to rebuild the sand dunes. They are not made to hang people's trash on, they are there to help the sand dunes rebuild themselves. It's getting closer to the time when reparation money from the 2010 BP oil spill will finally get to ground level. All along the Texas Gulf Coast, various groups and municipalities will apply for grant funding for projects benefitting a healthy Gulf Coast ecosystem. One such project involves rebuilding the dune system that protected the coastal marshes along the McFaddin shoreline before Hurricane Ike steamrolled them flat. We will visit the McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge and take a look at the stretch where the wetlands are most compromised, where saltwater intrusion is the biggest threat. Besides being important wildlife habitat, beloved of sportsmen, those marshes are Jefferson County's first line of defense from storm surge, and without them, we likely would have been inundated in Hurricane Ike. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise less

Denise Ruffino, Refuge Manager of the McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge, checks on an area where double sand fences are working to rebuild the sand dunes. They are not made to hang people's trash on, they are ... more

Photo: Dave Ryan

Image 7 of 33

Denise Ruffino, Refuge Manager of the McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge, checks on an area where double sand fences are working to rebuild the sand dunes. They are not made to hang people's trash on, they are there to help the sand dunes rebuild themselves. It's getting closer to the time when reparation money from the 2010 BP oil spill will finally get to ground level. All along the Texas Gulf Coast, various groups and municipalities will apply for grant funding for projects benefitting a healthy Gulf Coast ecosystem. One such project involves rebuilding the dune system that protected the coastal marshes along the McFaddin shoreline before Hurricane Ike steamrolled them flat. We will visit the McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge and take a look at the stretch where the wetlands are most compromised, where saltwater intrusion is the biggest threat. Besides being important wildlife habitat, beloved of sportsmen, those marshes are Jefferson County's first line of defense from storm surge, and without them, we likely would have been inundated in Hurricane Ike. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise less

Denise Ruffino, Refuge Manager of the McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge, checks on an area where double sand fences are working to rebuild the sand dunes. They are not made to hang people's trash on, they are ... more

Photo: Dave Ryan

Image 8 of 33

Government signs hung on the sand fences do little to stop people from damaging the sand fence. They are not made to hang people's trash on, they are there to help the sand dunes rebuild themselves. It's getting closer to the time when reparation money from the 2010 BP oil spill will finally get to ground level. All along the Texas Gulf Coast, various groups and municipalities will apply for grant funding for projects benefitting a healthy Gulf Coast ecosystem. One such project involves rebuilding the dune system that protected the coastal marshes along the McFaddin shoreline before Hurricane Ike steamrolled them flat. We will visit the McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge and take a look at the stretch where the wetlands are most compromised, where saltwater intrusion is the biggest threat. Besides being important wildlife habitat, beloved of sportsmen, those marshes are Jefferson County's first line of defense from storm surge, and without them, we likely would have been inundated in Hurricane Ike. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise less

Government signs hung on the sand fences do little to stop people from damaging the sand fence. They are not made to hang people's trash on, they are there to help the sand dunes rebuild themselves. It's ... more

Photo: Dave Ryan

Image 9 of 33

This map shows the boundaries of the McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge. It's getting closer to the time when reparation money from the 2010 BP oil spill will finally get to ground level. All along the Texas Gulf Coast, various groups and municipalities will apply for grant funding for projects benefitting a healthy Gulf Coast ecosystem. One such project involves rebuilding the dune system that protected the coastal marshes along the McFaddin shoreline before Hurricane Ike knocked them flat. and now the wetlands are most compromised, because saltwater intrusion is the biggest threat. These marshes are Jefferson County's first line of defense from storm surges. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise less

This map shows the boundaries of the McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge. It's getting closer to the time when reparation money from the 2010 BP oil spill will finally get to ground level. All along the Texas ... more

Photo: Dave Ryan

Image 10 of 33

Image 11 of 33

Denise Ruffino, Refuge Manager, looks over a map which shows the boundaries of the McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge. It's getting closer to the time when reparation money from the 2010 BP oil spill will finally get to ground level. All along the Texas Gulf Coast, various groups and municipalities will apply for grant funding for projects benefitting a healthy Gulf Coast ecosystem. One such project involves rebuilding the dune system that protected the coastal marshes along the McFaddin shoreline before Hurricane Ike knocked them flat. and now the wetlands are most compromised, because saltwater intrusion is the biggest threat. These marshes are Jefferson County's first line of defense from storm surges. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise less

Denise Ruffino, Refuge Manager, looks over a map which shows the boundaries of the McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge. It's getting closer to the time when reparation money from the 2010 BP oil spill will ... more

Photo: Dave Ryan

Image 12 of 33

Denise Ruffino, Refuge Manager, looks over the newly finished beach berm that ties into the Perkins Levy at an intersection about 600 feet into the wetlands from the Gulf of Mexico. It was created with dirt scooped out from borrow pits and bulldozed into place. It's getting closer to the time when reparation money from the 2010 BP oil spill will finally get to ground level. All along the Texas Gulf Coast, various groups and municipalities will apply for grant funding for projects benefitting a healthy Gulf Coast ecosystem. One such project involves rebuilding the dune system that protected the coastal marshes along the McFaddin shoreline before Hurricane Ike knocked them flat. and now the wetlands are most compromised, because saltwater intrusion is the biggest threat. These marshes are Jefferson County's first line of defense from storm surges. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise less

Denise Ruffino, Refuge Manager, looks over the newly finished beach berm that ties into the Perkins Levy at an intersection about 600 feet into the wetlands from the Gulf of Mexico. It was created with dirt ... more

Photo: Dave Ryan

Image 13 of 33

Denise Ruffino, Refuge Manager, looks over the newly finished beach berm that ties into the Perkins Levy. The new berm which runs behind her to the right, intersects the Levy about 600 feet into the wetlands from the Gulf of Mexico. The levy runs all the way to the Intercostal Waterway. The new beach berm was created with dirt scooped out from borrow pits and bulldozed into place. It's getting closer to the time when reparation money from the 2010 BP oil spill will finally get to ground level. All along the Texas Gulf Coast, various groups and municipalities will apply for grant funding for projects benefitting a healthy Gulf Coast ecosystem. One such project involves rebuilding the dune system that protected the coastal marshes along the McFaddin shoreline before Hurricane Ike knocked them flat. and now the wetlands are most compromised, because saltwater intrusion is the biggest threat. These marshes are Jefferson County's first line of defense from storm surges. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise less

Denise Ruffino, Refuge Manager, looks over the newly finished beach berm that ties into the Perkins Levy. The new berm which runs behind her to the right, intersects the Levy about 600 feet into the wetlands ... more

Photo: Dave Ryan

Image 14 of 33

The new beach berm was created with dirt scooped out from borrow pits like this and bulldozed into place. The pits attract several species of birds. It's getting closer to the time when reparation money from the 2010 BP oil spill will finally get to ground level. All along the Texas Gulf Coast, various groups and municipalities will apply for grant funding for projects benefitting a healthy Gulf Coast ecosystem. One such project involves rebuilding the dune system that protected the coastal marshes along the McFaddin shoreline before Hurricane Ike knocked them flat. and now the wetlands are most compromised, because saltwater intrusion is the biggest threat. These marshes are Jefferson County's first line of defense from storm surges. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise less

The new beach berm was created with dirt scooped out from borrow pits like this and bulldozed into place. The pits attract several species of birds. It's getting closer to the time when reparation money from ... more

Image 15 of 33

Image 16 of 33

Denise Ruffino, Refuge Manager, walks towards the gulf in an area that is being slowly washed away by the water. The seaweed is how far the water now comes in during high tide and is eroding away all the sand down to the clay base. It's getting closer to the time when reparation money from the 2010 BP oil spill will finally get to ground level. All along the Texas Gulf Coast, various groups and municipalities will apply for grant funding for projects benefitting a healthy Gulf Coast ecosystem. One such project involves rebuilding the dune system that protected the coastal marshes along the McFaddin shoreline before Hurricane Ike knocked them flat. and now the wetlands are most compromised, because saltwater intrusion is the biggest threat. These marshes are Jefferson County's first line of defense from storm surges. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise less

Denise Ruffino, Refuge Manager, walks towards the gulf in an area that is being slowly washed away by the water. The seaweed is how far the water now comes in during high tide and is eroding away all the sand ... more

Photo: Dave Ryan

Image 17 of 33

Denise Ruffino, Refuge Manager, stands at the the gulf water in an area that is being slowly washed away by the tides. The seaweed is how far the water now comes in during high tide and is eroding away all the sand down to the clay base that can be seen here to her left. What looks like rock is actually clay. It's getting closer to the time when reparation money from the 2010 BP oil spill will finally get to ground level. All along the Texas Gulf Coast, various groups and municipalities will apply for grant funding for projects benefitting a healthy Gulf Coast ecosystem. One such project involves rebuilding the dune system that protected the coastal marshes along the McFaddin shoreline before Hurricane Ike knocked them flat. and now the wetlands are most compromised, because saltwater intrusion is the biggest threat. These marshes are Jefferson County's first line of defense from storm surges. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise less

Denise Ruffino, Refuge Manager, stands at the the gulf water in an area that is being slowly washed away by the tides. The seaweed is how far the water now comes in during high tide and is eroding away all the ... more

Photo: Dave Ryan

Image 18 of 33

Denise Ruffino, Refuge Manager, looks over the newly finished beach berm that ties into the Perkins Levy. The new berm which runs behind her to the right, intersects the Levy about 600 feet into the wetlands from the Gulf of Mexico. The levy runs all the way to the Intercostal Waterway. The new beach berm was created with dirt scooped out from borrow pits and bulldozed into place. It's getting closer to the time when reparation money from the 2010 BP oil spill will finally get to ground level. All along the Texas Gulf Coast, various groups and municipalities will apply for grant funding for projects benefitting a healthy Gulf Coast ecosystem. One such project involves rebuilding the dune system that protected the coastal marshes along the McFaddin shoreline before Hurricane Ike knocked them flat. and now the wetlands are most compromised, because saltwater intrusion is the biggest threat. These marshes are Jefferson County's first line of defense from storm surges. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise less

Denise Ruffino, Refuge Manager, looks over the newly finished beach berm that ties into the Perkins Levy. The new berm which runs behind her to the right, intersects the Levy about 600 feet into the wetlands ... more

Photo: Dave Ryan

Image 19 of 33

The seaweed is how far the water now comes in during high tide and is eroding away all the sand down to the clay base. Several months ago this vehicle got stuck in the sand, now there is no sand and the vehicle is sunk in the clay and destroyed. It's getting closer to the time when reparation money from the 2010 BP oil spill will finally get to ground level. All along the Texas Gulf Coast, various groups and municipalities will apply for grant funding for projects benefitting a healthy Gulf Coast ecosystem. One such project involves rebuilding the dune system that protected the coastal marshes along the McFaddin shoreline before Hurricane Ike knocked them flat. and now the wetlands are most compromised, because saltwater intrusion is the biggest threat. These marshes are Jefferson County's first line of defense from storm surges. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise less

The seaweed is how far the water now comes in during high tide and is eroding away all the sand down to the clay base. Several months ago this vehicle got stuck in the sand, now there is no sand and the ... more

Photo: Dave Ryan

Image 20 of 33

Image 21 of 33

The seaweed is how far the water now comes in during high tide and is eroding away all the sand down to the clay base. The tides are also carrying away what is left of old highway 87 that used to run to High Island. Several months ago this vehicle got stuck in the sand, now there is no sand and the vehicle is sunk in the clay and destroyed. It's getting closer to the time when reparation money from the 2010 BP oil spill will finally get to ground level. All along the Texas Gulf Coast, various groups and municipalities will apply for grant funding for projects benefitting a healthy Gulf Coast ecosystem. One such project involves rebuilding the dune system that protected the coastal marshes along the McFaddin shoreline before Hurricane Ike knocked them flat. and now the wetlands are most compromised, because saltwater intrusion is the biggest threat. These marshes are Jefferson County's first line of defense from storm surges. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise less

The seaweed is how far the water now comes in during high tide and is eroding away all the sand down to the clay base. The tides are also carrying away what is left of old highway 87 that used to run to High ... more

Photo: Dave Ryan

Image 22 of 33

The seaweed is how far the water now comes in during high tide and is eroding away all the sand down to the clay base. Seen here are the remnants of the old sand socks, that were used at one time to rebuild the dunes near the shorline. Several months ago this vehicle got stuck in the sand, now there is no sand and the vehicle is sunk in the clay and destroyed. It's getting closer to the time when reparation money from the 2010 BP oil spill will finally get to ground level. All along the Texas Gulf Coast, various groups and municipalities will apply for grant funding for projects benefitting a healthy Gulf Coast ecosystem. One such project involves rebuilding the dune system that protected the coastal marshes along the McFaddin shoreline before Hurricane Ike knocked them flat. and now the wetlands are most compromised, because saltwater intrusion is the biggest threat. These marshes are Jefferson County's first line of defense from storm surges. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise less

The seaweed is how far the water now comes in during high tide and is eroding away all the sand down to the clay base. Seen here are the remnants of the old sand socks, that were used at one time to rebuild ... more

Photo: Dave Ryan

Image 23 of 33

The new beach berm was created with dirt scooped out from borrow pits like this and bulldozed into place. The pits attract several species of birds. It's getting closer to the time when reparation money from the 2010 BP oil spill will finally get to ground level. All along the Texas Gulf Coast, various groups and municipalities will apply for grant funding for projects benefitting a healthy Gulf Coast ecosystem. One such project involves rebuilding the dune system that protected the coastal marshes along the McFaddin shoreline before Hurricane Ike knocked them flat. and now the wetlands are most compromised, because saltwater intrusion is the biggest threat. These marshes are Jefferson County's first line of defense from storm surges. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise less

The new beach berm was created with dirt scooped out from borrow pits like this and bulldozed into place. The pits attract several species of birds. It's getting closer to the time when reparation money from ... more

Photo: Dave Ryan

Image 24 of 33

The new beach berm, seen to the right where Denise Ruffino's truck is, was created with dirt scooped out from borrow pits like this and bulldozed into place. The pits attract several species of birds. It's getting closer to the time when reparation money from the 2010 BP oil spill will finally get to ground level. All along the Texas Gulf Coast, various groups and municipalities will apply for grant funding for projects benefitting a healthy Gulf Coast ecosystem. One such project involves rebuilding the dune system that protected the coastal marshes along the McFaddin shoreline before Hurricane Ike knocked them flat. and now the wetlands are most compromised, because saltwater intrusion is the biggest threat. These marshes are Jefferson County's first line of defense from storm surges. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise less

The new beach berm, seen to the right where Denise Ruffino's truck is, was created with dirt scooped out from borrow pits like this and bulldozed into place. The pits attract several species of birds. It's ... more

Photo: Dave Ryan

Image 25 of 33

Image 26 of 33

The new beach berm, seen to the right where Denise Ruffino's truck is, was created with dirt scooped out from borrow pits like this and bulldozed into place. Ruffino is walking in the area where the bulldozers went back and forth piling it up. The pits attract several species of birds. It's getting closer to the time when reparation money from the 2010 BP oil spill will finally get to ground level. All along the Texas Gulf Coast, various groups and municipalities will apply for grant funding for projects benefitting a healthy Gulf Coast ecosystem. One such project involves rebuilding the dune system that protected the coastal marshes along the McFaddin shoreline before Hurricane Ike knocked them flat. and now the wetlands are most compromised, because saltwater intrusion is the biggest threat. These marshes are Jefferson County's first line of defense from storm surges. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise less

The new beach berm, seen to the right where Denise Ruffino's truck is, was created with dirt scooped out from borrow pits like this and bulldozed into place. Ruffino is walking in the area where the bulldozers ... more

Image 27 of 33

Denise Ruffino, Refuge Manager, walks towards the gulf water in an area that is being slowly washed away by the water. The seaweed is how far the water now comes in during high tide and is eroding away all the sand down to the clay base that can be seen here in the foreground. It's getting closer to the time when reparation money from the 2010 BP oil spill will finally get to ground level. All along the Texas Gulf Coast, various groups and municipalities will apply for grant funding for projects benefitting a healthy Gulf Coast ecosystem. One such project involves rebuilding the dune system that protected the coastal marshes along the McFaddin shoreline before Hurricane Ike knocked them flat. and now the wetlands are most compromised, because saltwater intrusion is the biggest threat. These marshes are Jefferson County's first line of defense from storm surges. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise less

Denise Ruffino, Refuge Manager, walks towards the gulf water in an area that is being slowly washed away by the water. The seaweed is how far the water now comes in during high tide and is eroding away all the ... more

Image 28 of 33

The seaweed is how far the water now comes in during high tide and is eroding away all the sand down to the clay base. Seen here are the remnants of the old sand socks, that were used at one time to rebuild the dunes near the shorline. Several months ago this vehicle got stuck in the sand, now there is no sand and the vehicle is sunk in the clay and destroyed. It's getting closer to the time when reparation money from the 2010 BP oil spill will finally get to ground level. All along the Texas Gulf Coast, various groups and municipalities will apply for grant funding for projects benefitting a healthy Gulf Coast ecosystem. One such project involves rebuilding the dune system that protected the coastal marshes along the McFaddin shoreline before Hurricane Ike knocked them flat. and now the wetlands are most compromised, because saltwater intrusion is the biggest threat. These marshes are Jefferson County's first line of defense from storm surges. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise less

The seaweed is how far the water now comes in during high tide and is eroding away all the sand down to the clay base. Seen here are the remnants of the old sand socks, that were used at one time to rebuild ... more

Photo: Dave Ryan

Image 29 of 33

Government signs hung on the sand fences do little to stop people from damaging the sand fence or the signs. It's getting closer to the time when reparation money from the 2010 BP oil spill will finally get to ground level. All along the Texas Gulf Coast, various groups and municipalities will apply for grant funding for projects benefitting a healthy Gulf Coast ecosystem. One such project involves rebuilding the dune system that protected the coastal marshes along the McFaddin shoreline before Hurricane Ike steamrolled them flat. We will visit the McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge and take a look at the stretch where the wetlands are most compromised, where saltwater intrusion is the biggest threat. Besides being important wildlife habitat, beloved of sportsmen, those marshes are Jefferson County's first line of defense from storm surge, and without them, we likely would have been inundated in Hurricane Ike. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise less

Government signs hung on the sand fences do little to stop people from damaging the sand fence or the signs. It's getting closer to the time when reparation money from the 2010 BP oil spill will finally get to ... more

Photo: Dave Ryan

Image 30 of 33

Image 31 of 33

The seaweed is how far the water now comes in during high tide and is eroding away all the sand down to the clay base. Denise Ruffino, Refuge Manager, stands at the the gulf water's edge. Seen here are the remnants of the old sand socks, that were used at one time to rebuild the dunes near the shorline. Several months ago this vehicle got stuck in the sand, now there is no sand and the vehicle is sunk in the clay and destroyed. It's getting closer to the time when reparation money from the 2010 BP oil spill will finally get to ground level. All along the Texas Gulf Coast, various groups and municipalities will apply for grant funding for projects benefitting a healthy Gulf Coast ecosystem. One such project involves rebuilding the dune system that protected the coastal marshes along the McFaddin shoreline before Hurricane Ike knocked them flat. and now the wetlands are most compromised, because saltwater intrusion is the biggest threat. These marshes are Jefferson County's first line of defense from storm surges. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise less

The seaweed is how far the water now comes in during high tide and is eroding away all the sand down to the clay base. Denise Ruffino, Refuge Manager, stands at the the gulf water's edge. Seen here are the ... more

Photo: Dave Ryan

Image 32 of 33

Government signs hung on the sand fences do little to stop people from damaging the sand fence. They are not made to hang people's trash on, they are there to help the sand dunes rebuild themselves. It's getting closer to the time when reparation money from the 2010 BP oil spill will finally get to ground level. All along the Texas Gulf Coast, various groups and municipalities will apply for grant funding for projects benefitting a healthy Gulf Coast ecosystem. One such project involves rebuilding the dune system that protected the coastal marshes along the McFaddin shoreline before Hurricane Ike steamrolled them flat. We will visit the McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge and take a look at the stretch where the wetlands are most compromised, where saltwater intrusion is the biggest threat. Besides being important wildlife habitat, beloved of sportsmen, those marshes are Jefferson County's first line of defense from storm surge, and without them, we likely would have been inundated in Hurricane Ike. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise less

Government signs hung on the sand fences do little to stop people from damaging the sand fence. They are not made to hang people's trash on, they are there to help the sand dunes rebuild themselves. It's ... more

Photo: Dave Ryan

Image 33 of 33

Jeff Co. wants to use BP funds for dune restoration

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Nearly five years ago, Hurricane Ike swept away the dunes that once protected coastal marshes bordering the 22-mile stretch of McFaddin Beach, leaving them vulnerable to the Gulf of Mexico and anything that might be carried in on its encroaching waves, be it salt water or oil from a spill like the 2010 BP disaster.

Both are potentially devastating for wetlands, which provide valuable habitat to bird, fish and other wildlife cherished by hunters, fishermen and birders and which are also the first line of defense for coastal communities like Jefferson County against a hurricane.

Local officials hope toe to secure grant funding through up to $1 billion in BP restoration funds that have been negotiated with trustees.

Both McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge and Jefferson County have submitted proposals for projects to protect the wetlands.

Jefferson County engineer Don Rao said estimates of rebuilding the dunes start at about $60 million.

The county has hoped to "get the tide flowing in that direction" by breaking the work down into smaller phases, such as a $10 million project addressing a particularly vulnerable stretch of shoreline that stretches east from High Island to Sabine Pass.

BP has already agreed to fund five projects in Texas totaling about $18 million. Of those, one or possibly two would benefit Southeast Texas

About $210,000 is slated to build facilities including a fish cleaning station, rest rooms and two wildlife viewing blinds at Sea Rim State Park. In addition, an artificial reef is proposed either off the coast of Jefferson or Nueces counties. The estimated $1.8 million project would build or enhance offshore reef structures that foster aquatic communities and attract fishermen and scuba divers.